Annual Local 258 IBEW Golf Tournament raised a final tally of $13,750 for the MS Society

Updated On: Jan 04, 2018

Published in the Hotline, Local 258 IBEW's member magazine, April 2017 issue.

From left: Brother Walter Goodwin, member of the Local 258 IBEW Golf Tournament Committee; Brother Dan Klassen, Assistant Business Manager and co-organizer of the annual Golf Tournament; Brother Doug McKay, Business Manager, Local 258 IBEW; Taryn Lencoe, Development Coordinator with the MS Society of Canada, BC & Yukon Division; and, Brother Rick Gerrard, Local 258 IBEW Membership Development and Golf Committee member. Missing from the photo is Brother Mark Davison, co-organizer of the annual Golf Tournament.

It was with great pleasure that members of the Local 258 IBEW golf tournament organizing committee presented a long awaited cheque to the MS Society of Canada, BC & Yukon Division, as a result of last September’s fundraising tournament that took place at the Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

“The delay in presenting these funds was somewhat unexpected, but we were glad to finally host the MS Society at our union hall in Burnaby so we could present them with a cheque for $13,750 to support the good work this organization does,” said Dan Klassen, Assistant Business Manager and co-organizer of the tournament along with Brother Mark Davison.

Local 258 took the initiative to help the MS Society by raising funds through the golf tournament many years ago in an effort to honour the long standing relationship the IBEW has with the MS Society – a relationship that goes back many decades when Brother Jim Wolfgang initiated the union’s involvement.

Brother Wolfgang began his career as a construction electrician with Local 230 and in 1958, became an Assistant Business Manager with the Local before taking on the role of International Representative working out of the Toronto office.

Jim was diagnosed with MS in the mid-60’s and continued to work until his doctor advised him to retire in 1985. It was then he became involved as a volunteer fundraiser with the MS Society, eventually becoming Chair of the MS Society’s Central Island Chapter, a position which he stepped down from a few years ago due to his health.

He has also served in many additional capacities with the MS Society and has been made an Honourary Member by the group. Brother Wolfgang has made an immense contribution to the successful relationship between IBEW and this non-profit charity organization that provides support and a wide range of services for people living with MS and their families. The MS Society also provide significant funds to important medical research for this condition that affects an estimated 100,000 people in Canada.

For more information about the MS Society, including volunteer opportunities, please visit their website at mssociety.ca.

Local 258 IBEW looks forward to this year’s 24th annual tournament scheduled to take place at the Pitt Meadows Golf Club on Monday, September 18th.